DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
ECON 460: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Spring 2016
Professor:
Alexandra Bernasek
Office:
C315 Clark
Office Hours:
TR 11:30 am -12:30 pm or by appointment
Course description:
This course focuses on the economics of developing countries. The course explores
the processes by which countries enter into a stage where the standards of living of
the masses of people are increased and these increases are sustained over time. One
of the central issues in economic development is the issue of economic growth. Other
issues include poverty and inequality, the Colonial legacy, the environment,
institutions and globalization, technological change, the role of the state, multilateral
institutions as well as the importance of gender. This course focuses on both the
macro and the micro issues that are central to growth and development.
Course objectives:
At the conclusion of this course students should;
1. Understand the particular structural characteristics of developing countries.
2. Compare and contrast theories of economic growth.
3. Identify the specific problems developing countries face and consider policies to
address those problems.
4. Understand the causes of poverty and inequality in the developing world.
5. Recognize the role that gender plays in economic development.
6. Consider the concept of sustainable development.
7. Understand issues involved in the globalization of markets and their
consequences for developed and developing countries.
Contact Hours:
To be successful, each week students are expected to spend approximately three
hours in lecture, and (at least) six hours engaging in activities including reading the
texts and journal references, reviewing class notes, and completing assignments.
Academic Integrity:
Students are expected to be aware of the University’s expectations regarding academic
integrity and the consequences of violating those expectations. Please see the
university catalog for policy on this issue:
http://catalog.colostate.edu/front/policies.aspx. There is a voluntary honor code that
you are welcome to sign.
1
Course readings:
There is one text for this course. Additional readings will be available on canvas.
James M. Cypher. The Process of Economic Development. Routledge: New York. 4th
Edition, 2014.
Course assignments:
1. For some classes there will be data collection and analysis assignments that
will be due in the following class. These are designed to be used as part of the
research project for the class. These are to be typed. Students are encouraged
to work together but final answers must be one’s own work. Any evidence of
“excessive collaboration” will be considered a violation of university policy.
Please ask me if you have any questions about what is meant by “excessive
collaboration”.
2. There will be a major research paper that is due the Tuesday of the second last
week of classes. This paper will be on a country of the student’s choosing and
will cover all aspects of the course as they pertain to that country. The paper
should be 10 pages, typed, double-spaced with appropriate references and
citations.
3. Students will give short presentations of their paper topics in the last two weeks
of classes.
4. Students are expected to participate in class discussions. Participation will be
recorded for 10 classes. Students should inform me at the end of every class in
which they participate in the discussion.
5. There will be a midterm exam and a final exam. The midterm will be a takehome. The final will also be a take-home and will be due during the exam period
during finals week.
Grades:
Questions and exercises (20 points*10)
200 points
Paper
200 points
Class participation (20 points*10)
200 points
Midterm exam
200 points
Final exam
200 points
TOTAL
1000 points
Grade distribution:
90-100%
A
80-89%
B
70-79%
C
60-69%
D
2
< 60%
F
Note: Plus/minus grades are used at the discretion of the professor.
Class schedule:
Week 1
T 1/19
Introduction to the course
R 1/21
The development imperative; Cypher Ch 1
Angus Deaton, “Ch 1 The Wellbeing of the World”, in The Great
Escape: Health, Wealth and the Origins of Inequality, Princeton U
Press, 2013 (reading on canvas)
Week 2
T 1/26
Measuring economic growth and development; Cypher Ch 2
R 1/28
Development in historical perspective; Cypher Ch 3
Week 3
T 2/2
Classical and Neoclassical theories of development and
underdevelopment; Cypher and Dietz Ch 4
R 2/4
Developmentalist theories of development; Cypher Ch 5
Week 4
T 2/9
Heterodox theories of development; Cypher Ch 6
R 2/11
Feminism and development (reading on canvas)
Week 5
T 2/16
Life and Debt – film and discussion
R 2/18
Life and Debt – film and discussion
Week 6
T 2/23
The State as a potential agent of transformation; Cypher Ch 7
R 2/25
Endogenous growth theories and new strategies for development;
Cypher Ch 8
Week 7
T 3/1
The Initial structural transformation; Initiating Industrialization;
Cypher Ch 9
R 3/3
Strategy Switching and Industrial Transformation; Cypher and
Dietz Ch 10
3
Week 8
T 3/8
Agriculture and Development; Cypher Ch 11
R 3/10
Guest lecture (Take-home midterm due in class)
T 3/15
SPRING BREAK
R 3/17
SPRING BREAK
Week 9
T 3/22
Population, Education and Human Capital; Cypher Ch 12
R 3/24
Technology and Development; Cypher Ch 13
Week 10
T 3/29
Transnational corporations and development; Cypher Ch 14
R 3/31
Macroeconomic Equilibrium: The external balance; Cypher Ch 15
Week 11
T 4/5
Trade and Development (reading on canvas)
R 4/7
The Environment and Development (reading on canvas)
Week 12
T 4/12
TBD -- Film and discussion
R 4/14
TBD -- Film and discussion
Week 13
T 4/19
The Debt Problem and Development; Cypher Ch 16
R 4/21
International Institutional Linkages: The IMF, World Bank and
Foreign Aid; Cypher Ch 17
Week 14
T 4/26
Angus Deaton, “Ch7 What to do with those left behind?”, in The
Great Escape: Health, Wealth and the Origins of Inequality,
Princeton U Press, 2013 (reading on canvas)
R 4/28
Conclusions
Week 15
T 5/3
Presentations (Research papers due in class)
R 5/5
Presentations
4
Final exam: May 11, 2016 6:20-8:20pm
Expectations:
1. All written work is to be the work of the student.
2. Late assignments are penalized one letter grade per day except in the cases of
documented illness or personal emergency or due to conflicts with university
sanctioned events.
3. Any form of academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will be punished
according to university policy.
4. Students and the professor will treat one another with respect in class
discussions and differences of opinion will be dealt with in a civilized manner.
5. Students are expected to read the assigned chapters/readings before coming to
class.
6. Students are not to text in class, read the paper, or in other ways behave in a
disruptive manner. These things are not respectful to fellow students who want
to come to class to pay attention and learn.
7. The professor reserves the right to make changes to the course syllabus as
deemed necessary.
5